Matrix assembler for typographical machines



v 7, 1940. I c, (:QQK 2,200,022

MATRIX ASSEMBLER FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Filed Jan. 16, 1940 ZSheets-Sheet 1 A iiorneys y 0- c. E. COOK 2.200.022

MATRIX ASSEMBLER FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Filed Jan. 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E CLEO E (00K,

By M M E A iiorneys- Inventor Patented May 7, 1940 PATENT OFFICE MATRIX ASSEMBLER FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Cleo E. 0001:, Kingsport, Tenn, assignor to Linotype Parts Company, nership New York, N. Y., a part- Application January 16, 1940, Serial No. 314,139

7 Claims.

"The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in typographical machines, commonly known as Linotype machines, wherein matrices stored in a magazine are delivered by manipulation of a keyboard to a two-way traveling belt which directs them to an assembler, the latter, in turn, introducing the matrices in proper position and order into the assembler means where they are assembled into a line preparatory to the casting of a type bar or slug therefrom.

It is customary in machines of this class to employ a constantly revolving toothed member or so-called star wheel at the entrance to the assembling elevator to receive the matrices advanced thereto by the traveling belt while the matrices are lying flatwise thereon and to erect them in vertical or upright position and stack them successively in the line undergoing composition in the assembling elevator.

In many machines of this type that have aready been manufactured the star wheel is driven by a train of gearing mounted on an assembler plate, but it has been found that the star wheel rotates too rapidly in order to accomplish the proper assembling of the matrices. In order to remedythis defect it has heretofore been found necessary to replace the assembler plate and the train of gearing and star wheel by substituting a plate upon which a set of idler gears are mounted which are interposed between the drive and driven gears of the assembler. This substitution of the entire assembler has been found quite costly and it is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an assembler unit which embodies a set of idler gears which may be easily and quickly mounted in position on the original style of assembler plate and in terposed between the drive and driven gears to effect the desired reduction of speed in the star wheel.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an assembler unit of this character in which the idler gears are journalled on a block or mounting for bodily pivotal and sliding movement into and out of engagement with the drive and driven gears and to provide means for securing the mounting in an adjustable position to equalize the meshing of the gears.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install in operative position and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the assembler plate on which the star Wheel and the gears for driving the same are journalled.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the inner side of the plate removed from the machine and showing the idler gear unit mounted in position thereon.

Figure 3 is a top plan View;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on a line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the mounting for the idler gears, and

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the as sembler plate with gears removed therefrom.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 5 designates the assembler platoon the outside of which the pulley 6 is journalled about which is trained the matrix delivery belt I which serves to convey the matrices delivered from the magazine to the assembler in a manner well known to the art.

On the inner side of the plate 5 .is the drive gear 8 which is driven by the usual belt and pulley drive means (not shown) and also journalled in the plate is a shaft 9 on one end of which is secured the driven gear l0 positioned at the inner side of the plate and on the other end of the shaft is secured the star wheel I l which is positioned on the outer side of the plate for receiving the matrices from the conveyor belt I.

The star wheel is positioned adjacent the matrix receiving end of the elevator l2 in which is provided the usual channel in which the matrices l3 are assembled.

In order that the star wheel may be driven at the desired reduced speed an idler gear unit is provided which includes a mounting block l4 having a slotted opening I5 for mounting the unit on a pin l6 carried by the assembler plate 5. The inner end of the pin I6 is reduced as shown at I! and provided With left hand threads for threaded engagement in a. collar 3 positioned in the slotted opening IS, the. collar projecting outwardly of the opening I 5 and provided with a flange H! to bind against the inner surface of the mounting M to secure the same in adjusted position on the collar.

Journalled on the mounting l4 are a plurality of idler gears 20, 2| and 22, the gear 20 being adapted for engagement with the drive gear 8 and the gear 22 being adapted for engagement with the driven gear 10, and the idler gears are constructed of proper ratio to reduce the speed of the drive gear transmitted to the driven gear.

In order to equalize the meshing engagement of the gears 20 and 22 with the drive and. driven gears respectively, a pair of set'screws 23 and*24 are provided in the mounting M which engage the flat surface 25 of the boss 26 through which the pin I6 is inserted. The abutting face of the mounting block I4 is provided with a recess-2 in order to accommodate the boss 26 to permit'thes bodily movement of the idler gears into and out of engaged position withthe drive and driven gears and also to permit the pivotal adjustment of the idler gear unit to equalize the gears by the manipulation of the set screws 23 and 24.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the idler gear unit may be detachably securedin position on the pin "5 and properly. adjusted to effect the desired engagement of the idler gears with the driven and driven gears.

It is believed the details of construction, operation and advantages of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: 1 I

1. In a Linotype machine, a toothed wheel controlling the feeding of matrices into an assembling channel and drive means for the wheel and comprising a drive gear, a driven gear secured on the shaft of the wheel and a speed reduction unit between said gears including a plurality of idler gears mounted for bodily rocking movement to adjust said idler gears relative to the drive and driven gears.

2. In a Linotype machine, a toothed wheel controlling the feeding of matrices into an assembling channel and drive means for the wheel and comprising a drive gear, a driven gear secured on the shaft of the wheel and a speed reduction unit between said gears including a plurality of idler gears mounted for bodily rocking movement to adjust said idler gears relative to the drive and driven gears, and means for securing the unit in adjusted position.

3. In a Linotype machine, a speed reduction unit between the drive and driven gears for the star wheel of the matrix assembling mechanism, said unit comprising a gear mounting movably positioned on the machine and idler gears journalled on the mounting providing an operative connection between said drive and driven gears.

4. In a Linotype machine, aspeedireduction unit between the drive and driven gears'for the star wheel of the matrix assembling mechanism,v

said unit comprising a gear mounting, a pivotal support for the mounting, idler gears journalled on=the mounting and means for securing the mounting in pivotally adjusted position to regulate engagement of the idler gears with said drive and driven gears.

5. In a Linotype machine, a toothed wheel controlling the feeding of matrices into an assembling channel and drive means for the wheel and comprising a drive gear, a driven gear secured on theshaft of the wheel, a speed reduction unitifor said gears and comprising a gear-mounting having interengaged idler gears journalled' thereon and means for detachably securing theunit in position to provide an operativeconnection between the drive and driven gears.

6. In a Linotype machine an assembler plate having drive and driven gears journalled thereon, said driven gear being'connected to a toothed control wheel for feeding matrices into aniassembling channel, an apertured-boss on theplate and a speed reduction unit for said gea-rs=pivotally and slidably supported on said boss.

'7. In a Linotype machine an assembler plate having drive and driven gears journalled thereon, said driven gear being connected-t0 atoothed control wheel for feeding matrices into an assem-s bling' channel, an apertured boss on the plate having a pin mounted therein, an idler gear mounting having a slotted openingtherein for receiving the pin and also having a plurality of in'-. terengaged idler gears journalled on said mount.

ing, means for adjustably'securing the mounting.

slidably on said pin and means for securing the mounting in a rockably adjusted position onthe pin to equalize engagement of the idler gears with the drive and driven gears.

. CLEO E. COOK; 

